Readings: 2 Kings 25:1-12; Psalm 137; Mt 8:1-4

In the first reading from the Kings, we find the disasters and the abominable acts that befell Zedekiah the King of Juda, his soldiers, and the burning down of all the houses in Jerusalem. All the people who were left in the city and deserters who had defected to the King of Babylon, were taken into exile. This great atrocity happened because the king and people acted with evil intent against Yahweh their God. In our world of today we hear and see many refugees who fled from their countries because of wars, oppressions and injustices. As children of the same God, we all need to stand up against prejudices, racial outcries for justice and supremacists and take them from our hearts. Our world needs healing from many evils that we wittingly or unwittingly follow. Could this cry of the Jews people: “ Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you” be a reality in our daily lives? 
When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.” After Jesus’ great Sermon on the Mount, today’s Gospel presents us a  leper who came and knelt before Jesus saying: “ Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean”. Here we can underline that  faith is the only key that brings healing from our illnesses and doubts in the power of God. Jesus is saying to those who believe everything is possible. Yes, it is not enough to say I know the Lord, but rather do His will. Jesus is always the  “YES” of our lives as he said: “ I do choose. Be made clean”. He then told the leper that he should  say nothing to anyone; that he  goes to the priest and  offers a gift to the Lord . Jesus came into this world to bring about people’s salvation. The command to the healed leper is therefore related to His overall mission.  He did not want worldly fame, because fame would have hindered the growth of His mission, as people would inevitably have misunderstood who Jesus was, wanting the blessings of following Jesus  without the burden of the Cross.  A lesson for us as His disciples always to be willing to grow in faith, loving Jesus for who He is rather than what He does for us.
Blessings.
Fr. Mussie